Collapsible crate.



W H. DODGE,

COLLAPSIBLE CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED 5mm, 1911.

1,Q05,520, Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

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WILLIAM H. noose, or HAYMAR-KET, vinernra. nssrenon or our -HAL1 TO BELA M. DE

NEMEGYEI, or WASHINGTON, nrsrnror or'ooriunnia.

ooimarsisrn snare.

Patented @ct. Ml, 19131.

Application filed .Tanuary'27, 1911. Serial No. 605,061.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM H. Doosn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Haymarket, in the county of Prince W'il liam, State of Virginia,- have invented a new and useful Collapsible Crate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that type of crates which are employed chiefly for ship-- ping burposes in the handling of poultry, eggs, bread, or the like, and which are intended to be returned as empties and used repeatedly. In order for such crates to be handled expeditiously by transportation companies when empty, it is essential that they be foldable or collapsible for economy of space, and from my own practical experience I have observed that the crates commonly proposed to meet this require mentare so complicated and cumbersome as to render them generally prohibitive in the matter of cost of production and maintenance.

Among the objects aimed at in this instance is to construct a cate which is thoroughly practical and which may be built an original cost barely higher than that of the ordinary rigid crate.

For a full understanding of the same, reference is to be had to the following description, and the accompanying drawings, in which' Figure 1 is a perspective view of the entire structure, parts being in a partially collapsed position; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, still further collapsed; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section; Fig. 4 is a detail of a hinge element; Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the strap hinge connections; Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the bottom brackets, and Fig. 7 is a detail plan view of the partition clips.

Thr ugho-ut the following description and on the several figures of the drawings similar parts are referred to by like reference characters. i

As illustrated the crate comprises oppositel; di ased vertical end members 10 and side members 11 and 12, permanently hinged together each to each on vertical pivots or hinges 13. Each hinge comprises preferably a plurality of straps 14 on the inside of the crate connected by a pivot pin or rod 15. The construction and arrangement ofthe hinges are such that either pair of diagonally opposite corners may approach each other in collapsing the crate. The hinge straps 1st may be secured in any suitable. manner, but since the walls of the crate may be required to be made of thin material it may be desirable to employ stiffening wires or bars 16 on the outside and have the fasteners 17 pass through from the said straps and clench over said bars, thereby stiffeningthe crate' members and strengthening the hinge fasteners. The

bars 16 may be provided with spurs 16 to assist in retaining them in place.

The bottom member 18 is permanently pivoted along one edge to the lower edge of the side member 11, on hinges 19 and is adapted to swing upwardly flatly against the inner surface thereof. The bottom member mzfy be limited in its downward swing by brackets 20 carried by the other members. In order to strengthen and rigidify the entire structure in all positions I provide a rigid unitary rectangular binder or bail 21 which embraces the device intermediate of the end members. This bail assists the brackets 20 in maintaining the bottom member in proper normal position. Said bail is pivoted on the outside of one'side member, preferably the side opposite the one to which the bottom is-hinged, so as to swing freely toward either end in collapsing, and yet constantly maintain its proper embracing relation to the side members. That side of the bail opposite its pivot has loose slidable engagement with the opposite side member and is confined thereagainst by a pair of guards 22. The lid or cover 23, when used, will he slipped beneath the top of the bail and thereby held from lateral displacement. .Said cover and any other fiat accessories may be carried within the crate when folded.

if the crate is used for the shipment or storage of eggs it is customary to employ a partition 24 intermediate of the end inem-' bers and pivot it permanently upon the inner surface of the side member 12, and when placed midway thereof is arranged so as to swing in either direction flatly thereagainst. Oppositely disposed spring clips 25 on the opposite side member serve to maintain the partition in normal operative position, either of which clips constitutes a positive stop when the partition is swung against it past the other. Any suitable form of binge I maybe employed to connect the partition to vthe side member 12. I prefer, however, as

a convenient and substantial means, to use a plurality of links 26 passed through said side member, forming loops or eyes at both ends, coiiperating with the aforesaid bail-21 and on the inside with a pivot pin or rod 27 vsecured 'to' the partition as by a metallic ;band or strap 28. Said links 26 may be made in any convenien't'manner, as of short len ths of wire passed through and their on s twisted together, of open link formation, or otherwise, the fact remaining that they constitute a simple strong hinge structure common to both the bail and the partition, a l v At 29 I show a form of hasp which may 'be carried by the end members and adapted to engage the opposite side members to hold the device in the collapsed position. When the crate is in its normal or set up osition, in order to collapse the same it is at necessary to depress either clip 25 and swing the partition past it on its pivot 27 until it lies vflatly against the side member 12. The bottom 18 is then free to swing up wardly againstthe side member 11 or clips 25 thereon. The entire device may then be collapsed, as indicated partially in Fig. 2, in

either direction.

Having thus described a preferred embodiment of the invention, but intending 'not to be-limited thereto except as may be required 'by the state of the art, what surface of said side member, means to prevent said bottom member from swinging downwardly below the normal plane of the lower edges of the side and end members, and a rigid unitary rectangular binder surrounding the aforesaid side and bottom 'members and constituting a constant bracing support therefor in all positions of adjustment of the crate, said binder having pivotal connection with one side member and means confining it slid-ably against the other side member.

2. In a shipping crate, the combination of side and end members, a partition intermediate of the end members and adapted to swing flatly against the inner surface of one side member, a bottom member connected to and adapted to swing flatly against the op posite side member, a rigid rectangular bail surrounding the side and bottom members, means confining the bail for slidable engagement against the latter specified side member, and means passed through the first specified side member and serving as hinges common to both said bail and said partition.

3. The hereindescribed collapsible'crate comprising, in combination, opposite side and end members, pivot means to permanently secure adjacent side and end members together, said pivot means including strap hinges on the inside, barbed reinforcing bars on the outside, and fasteners passed through from said hinge straps to and around said bars, top and bottom members,

same and the side members and perma nently connected to the latter.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. DODGE. Witnesses:

Gno. L. BEELER,

ARTHUR L. BRYANT.

,and rigid supporting means embracing the 

